Chapter 313: Ōnoki's Fury
"Fourth Kazekage… good! Good! To go so far as to mutilate Huangtu like this… good! Very good!!!"
Ōnoki's chest heaved violently, his eyes burned with murderous intent, and his gritted teeth trembled as he repeated "good" again and again through clenched jaws.
"Lord Tsuchikage…" Several jōnin accompanying him wore deeply worried expressions and asked, "What happened?"
With a single gesture, Ōnoki crumbled the three letters into dust and growled, "The Fourth Kazekage has broken through the border and is heading straight for the village!"
"What!?" Everyone was shocked. They immediately asked with concern, "Where is he now? Should we intercept him directly?"
"No, we return to the village first." Ōnoki shook his head.
Though he was seething with rage over the Fourth Kazekage intentionally severing his son's limbs, he hadn't lost his reason.
The intel said that the Fourth Kazekage was leading a force of about a hundred and heading straight for Iwagakure. But information might not be accurate.
Due to previous troop withdrawals, the border defenses were thin. Surveillance wasn't airtight.
No one could guarantee that only one force of Sunagakure shinobi had entered. What if more squads had slipped past the lines to infiltrate the village?
If they prioritized intercepting the Fourth Kazekage out of rage, and it turned out to be a diversion, the village could suffer serious losses.
At this moment, they had to get back as quickly as possible. The village could not be left vulnerable.
Once they were back, with him present, any tactic from the enemy would have to be confronted head-on.
"Akiseki, send messenger hawks to Shiyan and Huitu. Tell Shiyan to continue attacking Kumogakure, and have Huitu bring back five hundred troops to reinforce the village."
From earlier reports, Sunagakure's main force was still fighting Konoha on the Fire Country border. A massive redeployment to this front seemed unlikely.
So their current invasion force probably wasn't large.
With Huitu bringing back five hundred shinobi, the village's safety should be assured.
After what happened before, Huitu was no longer a little girl in need of protection—Ōnoki believed in her strength now.
"Alright. I'll go on ahead. You all get back to the village as fast as you can."
After writing the orders and sending them off with hawks, Ōnoki took to the skies and flew directly back to the village.
"Move quickly!"
With Ōnoki gone, none of the Iwa shinobi dared to delay. Even if it meant overusing their chakra, they accelerated their pace.
The rocky plains weren't far from Iwagakure—just about a hundred kilometers.
Ōnoki, flying at full speed in a straight line, made it back in just half an hour.
Huff... huff... Good!
Seeing that the village was unharmed, Ōnoki exhaled deeply in relief.
But then his gaze turned cold. Since the village was safe, it was time to properly deal with that damn Fourth Kazekage.
"Lord Tsuchikage, you've returned!"
At the Tsuchikage Building, Ōnoki landed directly on the rooftop, skipping his home altogether. One of the elder advisors greeted him with a grave expression.
He too had received the report from the front: the Fourth Kazekage was heading for the village.
It was a serious matter. Even the elder, who had seen countless crises, was at a loss for how to respond.
Luckily, Ōnoki was back. With him here, there was no need to fear the Fourth Kazekage.
That confidence was something Ōnoki had built in Iwagakure for decades.
"Convene a high-level jōnin meeting immediately," Ōnoki ordered.
The Fourth Kazekage's attack came at a critical moment. He couldn't let rage dictate his actions. Once the village's defense was arranged, then he could go kill that madman.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
The elder immediately sent out word using special channels to gather all jōnin for an emergency meeting.
Three minutes later, the war room was filled with every jōnin in the village, including the heads of various shinobi clans.
Standing before a giant stone slab, Ōnoki addressed them directly:
"The Fourth Kazekage has crossed the border and is advancing toward the village. Based on intel, if they don't stop to rest, they'll arrive in half a day."
"But it's impossible for them not to rest. They aren't that foolish."
If they kept marching without rest, by the time they reached Iwagakure, they'd be too exhausted to fight.
In fact, Ōnoki hoped they'd do just that. That way, his defenders could wipe them out easily.
But clearly, the enemy wouldn't make such a mistake.
Some jōnin chuckled at this, then continued watching Ōnoki intently.
They had already been briefed when the elder received the initial intel. Basic defensive arrangements were in place.
Several squads had already been deployed to scout the Land of Earth for other possible invading forces.
So the jōnin at this meeting weren't surprised by the announcement—they were simply awaiting orders.
In Iwagakure, Ōnoki's word was law. Especially during times like these.
"If Sunagakure's target is the village, they'll likely rest about a hundred kilometers away—in the Red Rock City area."
"Considering how the Fourth Kazekage deliberately mutilated Huangtu and headed straight for the village, it's clear what he wants."
That little brat of a newly appointed Kazekage wanted a head-on battle with him.
But because of the overwhelming threat of Dust Release, Ōnoki suspected the enemy would choose a city to rest in—where Dust Release's range would be limited.
"From now on, all of you will form squads and be ready to provide support at any time. The ANBU will secure the perimeter and make sure no Sand shinobi sneak in."
"Understood?" Ōnoki shouted.
"Understood!" the jōnin responded loudly.
"Good." Ōnoki nodded, then turned to the two shinobi at the front. "Roshi, Han, you and your squads come with me. The rest of you, begin preparations."
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
The jōnin quickly dispersed, leaving only two figures behind—one with red hair in a purple shirt: Roshi, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki. The other, tall and masked in a red cloak: Han, the jinchūriki of the Five-Tails.
"Your mission is to accompany me to face the Fourth Kazekage. We're going to crush Sunagakure in one battle."
Even in past dangerous battles, Ōnoki had never allowed the jinchūriki to leave the village.
But now he was truly furious.
He would intercept the Fourth Kazekage himself—and slaughter him and his entire force.
He wanted the Fourth to understand the price of provoking him. He wanted him to feel the pain of losing comrades.
But above all… he wanted to save Huangtu.
Though he knew the odds were low, he had to try.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
Roshi and Han didn't speak much. They simply obeyed. As jinchūriki and loyal shinobi of Iwagakure, this was their duty.
(END CHAPTER)
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